How To Correct Puffy Eyes & Dark Circles

If your eyes look dark and swollen after waking up in the morning no matter how much sleep you get, it's time to pinpoint what's causing your eye problems. Dark circles occur when the veins show through underneath the skin, while puffy eyes occur due to fluid retention or skin sagging. In most cases, puffy eyes and dark circles can be cured at home, using over-the-counter remedies and at-home care. If you are unable to cure your symptoms at home, consult a doctor.

Step 1

Rinse your sinuses with a saltwater spray to reduce dark circles, says MayoClinic.com. Mix 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 tsp. sea salt and pour into a nasal spray bottle. Spray the liquid into each nostril, then blow your nose. Clearing nasal congestion will help reduce pressure against the veins underneath the eyes.

Step 2

Slice a refrigerated cucumber and place one slice over each eye to reduce puffiness, says Mary Rose Almasi in the article "3 Eye Problems Fixed" in advice magazine "Real Simple." Leave the cucumber slices over the eyes for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Sleep between seven and eight hours a night to banish puffy eyes and dark circles. Dark circles and puffy eyes will be more obvious if you have gotten less than seven hours of sleep, says MayoClinic.com.

Step 4

Take an over-the-counter antihistamine to reduce puffiness and dark circles due to allergies, says Mary Stefanyszyn, M.D., associate surgeon in ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia in the book "Symptoms, Their Causes and Cures."

Step 5

Place two chilled teabags over the eyes for 15 minutes. The tannins from the tea will tighten loose skin, help blood vessels under the eyes constrict and reduce swelling in the under-eye area.

Tips and Warnings

If you don't have cucumbers on hand, use a washcloth rinsed in cool water.
Consult a doctor if your dark circles or puffy eyes are accompanied by additional symptoms.